Concerns over Obama’s shift to left

[MannyGoldstein]

From The Financial Times:

Until a few weeks ago Barack Obama’s economic platform was the most centrist of the three Democratic contenders remaining after John Edwards, the flag-bearer of the left, dropped out in late January.

Since Super Tuesday on February 5, that has changed. Scenting, perhaps, the chance of settling the nomination next week (when Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont go to the polls), Mr Obama has indulged in a bidding war with Hillary Clinton to see who can rail most strongly against globalisation.

Campaign veterans say much of the rhetoric can be discounted as classic primary season politicking that will be diluted when it comes to the general election. But sympathetic economists have expressed concern about proposals Mr Obama has unveiled in the past two weeks since campaigning began in earnest to woo the workers of Ohio.

Last week Mr Obama came out against “open trucking” with Mexico in which freight lorries would drive across the border instead of unloading on to American trucks. His new stance coincided with the endorsement of the Teamsters union, which is opposed to competition in road freight.

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Uh oh! Obama must be some kinda commie or pinko or something. Or maybe he's an actual Democrat, something that hasn'y been seen this close to the presidency in about 30 years.

[griffi94]

1. or maybe it's like the piece says

and can be discounted as classic primary season politcking. since his new stance coincided with with a teamsters union endorsement, maybe he's just saying what he has to in order to win.
he'll move back to the center as soon as he gets the nomination.

[Venceremos]

6. My neighbor is a (conservative Republican) owner/operator

and is dead set against "open trucking" because it threatens his livelihood, it's a highway safety issue, and they aren't screening the trucks properly at the border so it's also a national security issue.

Open trucking is talked about alot in our area because we have numerous blue collar workers who moved to trucking after their jobs went south. It's a frequent topic on local conservative talk radio. Everyone I've heard here, regardless of their political affiliation, agree with Obama's position on open trucking. The Republicans do not consider it a left position, because of the national security concerns.

If Obama maintains this stance, it's going to win him Republican votes in the general (assuming he gets the nomination). So it would be poor strategy for him to move "back to the center" after the primaries -- I'm guessing he'll figure that out.

[Lasher]

2. Yay!

This is encouraging.

[w13rd0]

3. I am opposed to open trucking...

...the practice absolutely destroyed several trucking companies I used to work for. And the trucks in those convoys often wouldn't pass the most lenient of US vehicle inspections.

[DemzRock]

4. Actually it proves he is a politician not a saint, like some seem to think n/t

[JPZenger]

5. 99% of Americans oppose Mexican trucks on US highways

I can't believe there would be any position that would be more popular in the US than stopping Mexican trucks with Mexican drivers from travelling throughout the US. That is not just a Teamsters issue. Mexican trucks are now transporting good into New York City.

The King George Administration has circumvented an attempt by Congress to stop it.

There is plenty of evidence of insufficient oversight of US truckers. But the Feds claim they will be able to inspect every Mexican truck.

Trucking provides some of the last decent paying blue-collar jobs in the US that apparently couldn't be outsourced. Now, King George has found a way to outsource them.